About

Waterfront Seattle presents an opportunity to reinvest in Seattle and its future. The City is planning a Local Improvement District (LID) as a key component of the funding strategy, as identified in the Waterfront Strategic Plan and adopted by City Council Resolution 31399 in 2012.

An LID is a funding tool by which property owners financially contribute to a project that will increase the value of their property. LIDs are used by cities and local jurisdictions to fund public projects in the State of Washington and are governed by specific state and local laws. Download an overview of the Waterfront Seattle LID to learn more.

The Waterfront Seattle LID will enable property owners to financially contribute to a portion of the improvement costs based on increases in their property value that are directly attributable to the waterfront improvements to be made as part of Waterfront Seattle. Learn more about the Waterfront Seattle improvements Program.

The Waterfront Seattle LID is one funding mechanism among many. LID funding will support the park, public space and pedestrian improvements implemented by the Waterfront Seattle Program. Learn more about the Waterfront Seattle funding plan.

LID process

There are several steps to forming an LID which include extensive public engagement throughout the process. Updated information about the LID and assessment will be available online.

In August 2017, the City completed an LID feasibility study, which provides an initial estimate of the overall range in special benefit resulting from Waterfront Seattle improvements. The feasibility analysis is limited and provides a general estimate for the overall special benefit provided by LID-funded waterfront improvements. It does not include any analysis of property-specific special benefit. Download the LID feasibility study to learn more.

Between fall 2017 – spring 2018, the City will conduct a special benefit study to determine the LID boundary and the "before" and "after" values for each property in the study area. "Special benefit" is defined as the estimated increase in a property’s fair market value as a direct result of improvements in the Waterfront Seattle Program. The more detailed special benefit study will include a parcel-by-parcel analysis of all properties within the study area.

Following the completion of the special benefit study, the Seattle City Council will vote to form the LID. The formation process is expected to begin in mid-2018 and assessments are expected to begin in late-2019.